Excavating-machine.



PATENTED APR.- 2, 1907.-

0. G. PAGE EXQAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1906.

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EXOAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR.12,1906.

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PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

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PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

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APPLICATION FILED MAL 12,1906.

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EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-12,1906.

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No. 849,082. 'PATENTBD APR. 2, 1907. v

c. G. PAGE. EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 12, 1906 'rn s'rans ArnNr rrrcn.

CHARLES C. PAGE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK C. AUSTIN,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXCAVATlNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed March 12,1906. Serial No. 305,623.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PAGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to excavating-machines of the type or class inwhich an excavating device is reciprocated along a path conforming tothe transverse contour of an excavation, such as a trench or ditch, andadapted for excavating in opposite directions in alternation, prominentexamples of ma chines of such type or class being found in patent toSmith, No. 590,119, dated Septem ber 14, 1897, and in reissued LettersPatent of Jacobs, No. 12,441, dated January 30, 1906.

In the said Smith patent the excavating device consists of a double plowhaving its two faces rigidly connected and facing in oppositedirections, whereby the device is intended to excavate in the directionin which it is drawn, while in said Jacobs reissue the excavating devicecomprises two buckets or scoops respectively mounted on one and theother of two flexibly-connected trucks, the two scoops being mounted torelatively face in opposite directions. In said two patents theexcavating devices are directed along the desired path by a track-guideconforming to the transverse contour of a trench or proposed trench andreciprocated along the track-guide by cables and suitable operatingmeans therefor, the track-guide being vertically adjusted from time totime in accordance with the progress of the work. In other cases it isproposed to reciprocate a single scoop along a track-guide of suchcharacter; but in such machines the scoop cuts or excavates one wayonly. Means other than track-guides conforming to the transverse contourof the ditch have also been proposed, as in patent to Whe'aton, No.590,926, dated September 28, 1897, in which the scoops cut one way only,while in other cases a single bucket excavating in one direction onlyhas been guided by means other than by a transverse guide conforming tothe transverse contour of the trench, as illustrated in patent toTrainor, No. 564,727, dated July 26, 1896, in which the scoop isattached to a swinging arm supported from a truck on a horizontal guide.

A prominent object of my invention is to provide an excavating-machinewith a single scoop which can excavate in each of two oppositedirections in alternation by adjusting the scoop at or near eachterminal portions of its line of travel along a path conforming to thetransverse contour of the trench.

A further prominent object is to adapt said adjustment of the scoop toalso cause it to dump its contents at opposite sides of the trench inalternation.

Further objects are to provide the machine with a single truck having asingle scoop for cutting or shoveling in opposite directions inalternation, to overcome several objections to a double rigid plow whichif made in accordance with the Smith patent would be too long toproperly follow the angles of the trench if made of suitablesoilcarrying capacity, and to provide a single scoop capable of doingthe same or substantially the same amount of work in a given time as thetwo scoops of the said Jacobs reissued patent, in which when the twotrucks are traveling in either direction the scoop which is temporarilythe rear scoop trails without cutting or loading.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of atrenching-machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig.

2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, ofone end portion of the traclcguide, the truck and scoop on shovel beingillustrated in two positions, respectively, in full and in dotted lines.Fig. 4 is a scetional elevation, the section being on line 4 4 in Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating a spring-catch for engaging a rackdevice. Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating a spring-latch device forengaging the rack device and a cam for operating the spring-latchdevice. Fig. 7 is a section through the scoop on line 7 7 in Fig. 3.Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 5 5 in Fig. 3, it being observedthat in Fig. 3 a part of the track-guide portion is shown inlongitudinal section. Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating means forreversing the scoop or shovel. Fig. 10 is a detail showing a modifiedform of reversing device for the scoop or shovel and also illustratingthe truck in side elevation. Fig. 11 is a detail illustrating the cablesattached to the shifter and the employment of a chain-and-sprocketdevice as a power-transmitting connection between the shifter and thescoop.

A indicates the scoop or shovel pivotally mounted upon the truck B. Thetruck is provided with four wheels 1, which are arranged to traverse atrack-guide C, conforming or conformable to the transverse contour ofthe proposed trench, as best illustrated in Fig. 1,in which thetrack-guide C, of ordinary construction, is shown raised above the ditchby well-known adjusting devices, which can be operated so as to lowerthe track-guide to the desired extent. It will be seen that when thetrack-guide is suitably lowered the scoop will traverse and operatealong a path conforming to the transverse profile of the trench orexcavation D.

I have also illustrated known means for reciprocating the excavatingdevice trans versely to the trench-line, said means comprising, forexample, cables E and E, trained over suitable pulleys on thetrack-guide and the body-frame portions of the machine and connectedwith suitable winding-drums 2 and 3, respectively, which can be operatedand reversed by any suitable devices for example such as showncin someof the patents hereinbefore referred to.

The scoop or shovel shown in full lines in Fig. 9 is in position forcutting. to the right when drawn in such direction, and it isillustrated in dotted lines in position for cutting to the left whendrawn in the latter direction. The scoop is adapted to scrape or out andto take in soil when in either of said two positions. As shown, it hastwo transverse portions 4 and 4 Fig. 7, between its opposite sides 5 5,the outer end of each of its two portions 4 and 4 being a cutting orscraping edge. The outer edges of its side portions 5 5 are providedwith cutting edges, particularly at points adjacent to the scoopportions 4 and 4*, it being understood that these cutting edges may beintegral with the side 5 or that they can be formed by blades securedthereto. When the scoop is in position for cutting toward the right, itstransverse portion 4 forms its bottom and its transverse portion 4 formsits back, and when it is turned into position for cutting to the leftits portion 4 forms its back, while its portion 4 forms its bottom. Itwill be seen that a one-fourth. revolution of the scoop toward the leftabout the point 6, Fig. 7, will reverse the scoop from one to the otherof said two positions; but as a matter of further improvement myinvention con templates giving the scoop three-fourths or substantiallythree-fourths of an entire revolution in a direction to bring it fromone to the other of said two positions and at the same time to cause itwhile thus revolving to turn upside down, and thereby effectivelydischarge its load. This will obviously take place if the scoop in Fig.7 is given threefourths of arevolution to the right about the point oraxis 6. When the scoop is traveling one way, it faces in the directionin which it travels, and after it is reversed in position it travels andfaces in an opposite direction.

In Fig. 10 the scoop is provided with a gear or pinion 7, which is fixedupon a journal 8, the latter being also rigid with the scoop, and thetruck is provided with a longitudinal sliding rack device F, arranged toengage the gear 7 and supported by guides 9 on the truck. If now thesaid rack device F, Fig. 10, is shifted toward the left, the scoop willbe turned to the right about the axis of the journal 8, and by thusgiving three-fourths part of a revolution to the scoop it will dump itscontents and be brought into position for facing and cutting in anopposite direction. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 10 it will onlybe desirable to provide the scoop with two gears 7, one at each sidethereof, and in such case the rack device F will comprise two rack-bars10, arranged under the gears 7. Where, however, it is desired to providemore clearance under the truck, the latter can be provided with twogears 1 1, arranged over and engaging the gears 7, as in Figs. 4, 8, and9, and in such case the rack-bars 10 of the rack device F are arrangedover and engage the upper gears 11, it being observed that with thisarrangement, as in the preceding instance, the gears 7 are fixed onjournals 8, which are rigid with the scoop, and that the gears 11 havethe ends of their spindles or axles 15 supported by bearings on thetruck and that said axles 15 are independent of the scoop. When,therefore, the rack device, as shown in Figs. 4, 8, and 9, is shifted tothe left, the scoop will be turned to the right about the axis of thejournals 8, and upon making three-fourths of a revolution it will bebrought from the position shown in full lines to the position shownindotted lines in Fig. 9.

As best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the journals or spindles 8 aresecured to opposite sides of the scoop and extended outwardly therefromthrough bearings on the longitudinal sides 12 of the truck-frame, theouter ends of said journals being mounted in bearings 13, which resemblebent metal straps se cured to the sides of the truck-fra1ne. l/Vhere theupper gears 11. are employed, their axles or spindles 15 are not securedto the scoop, the inner ends of such spindles being mounted in hearingson the truclcframe, while their outer ends are mounted in bearings 16,secured upon the outer longitudinal sides of the truck-frame and similarin form to the lower bearings 13.

The rack device F preferably comprises two parallel rack-barsrespectively arranged at opposite longitudinal sides of the truck andconnected together by any suitable connection-such, for example, as thetransverse end bars 17 and 17 shown in Fig. 3 thereby providing alongitudinally-reciprocative rack-frame or frame provided with twolongitudinal lines of rack-teeth, said frame being supported and guidedto move or slide upon the truck in direction parallel with the length ofthe truck-frame.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 I have illustrated strap-guides 18arranged upon the truck-frame and adapted to guide the bars 10. I alsoprovide means for temporarily latching or locking the rack device uponthe truck, so as to prevent it from shifting until it is forced to shiftrelatively to the truck by means provided for such purpose. When, forexample, the truck thus provided with a single excavating-bucket hastraversed the track-guide from left to right and to an extent to crossthe excavation and arrive at or near a point suitable for dumping thecontents of the scoop, as illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1, 3, and4, the end portion of the rack device is projecting beyond the thenforward end of the truck and is locked in such position, as shown. Ifnow said advancement of the truck is continued by reason of cable Econtinuing to pull the truck and cable E continuing to pay out, suchfurther advancement of the truck will bring its rack device against anabutment provided by stops G G on the track-guide, it being observedthat said stops can embody springbumpers 19 19, Fig. 3, to relievesudden shock. If now the rack is unlocked and the truck is still fartheradvanced, the rack device will be held by the stop devices againstfarther advancement, but the truck will continue to advance, whereby theengagement of its gears with the rack device will cause the scoop toturn to the right from its position shown infull lines and makethreequarters of a revolution, thereby dumping the load from the scoopand bringing the scoop into position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1,4, and 9. When the scoop has been thus reversed, the winding-drums forthe cables should also be reversed, so as to draw the truck toward theleft, and thereby cause it to retrace its path and permit the scoop toagain excavate. In Fig. 3, for example, the then forwardly-projectingend of the rack device is checked by the stop device G G, as shown infull lines, but when the truck is farther advanced to the right it willbe brought into position shown in dotted lines, and when the truck hasbeen thus brought into such position the rack device will then projectfrom the left end of the truck, it being observed that the dotted linesat the left in Fig. 3 merely indicate such relative projection of therack device on the return movement of the truck and that their positionon the drawing presupposes that the scoop has been reversed and that thetruck has moved back to its position shown in full lines. In order tosteady the rack device on the truck and prevent accidental shift, thetruck is provided with comparatively light spring-latch devices H,arranged to engage in beveled notches 20 in the rack-bars 10, theengaging ends of said spring-latch devices being antifriction-rolls 21,so that when the rack device of the advancing truck is met by the stopdevice G G the pulling force of the drawing-cable on the truck will besufficient to force the spring-catch devices H back and out ofengagement with the rack device. The latches H and notches 20 arearranged for automatically latching the rack device in each of its twopositions. I have also provided a device for more positively locking therack device in its two positions on the truck, as illustrated in Figs. 3and 6. A description of one of these locking devices will answer forboth. Said locking devices each comprise a cam 22 on the track-guide anda spring-latch device I on the truck. The spring-latch device I has itsouter end provided with an antifriction-roll 23, which is normallyprojected from the truck, the cam being arranged in the path of thisnormally projected antifriction-roll. WVhen the truck, as shown in fulllines in Fig. 3, is further drawn to the right, the antifriction-roll 23of the springcatch I engages the cam 22, whereby the spring-latch orlocking device is forced back, so as to cause its catch portion 24 toleave a notch 25 in the rack-bar, and thereupon while the rack-bar isheld stationary the antifriction-roll 23 of the locking device ridesalong the straight longitudinal face portion 26 of the cam, and when thetruck reaches the predetermined limit of its movement to the right thelocking device I will be brought opposite a second notch 27 in therack-bar, but its engaging end 23 will not at that moment enter notch27, as the said locking device will still be held back by face portion22 of the cam; but after the truck has been moved to the desired extentto the right and the winding-drums reversed, so as to then draw thetruck to the left, the locking device I will automatically engage innotch 27 of the rack-bar as soon as the return movement of the truck hasbeen sufficient to permit the latch end 23 to roll back along faceportion 26 of the cam and also clear the rounded face portion 22 of saidcam. The catch devices H are merely supplemental to the catch devices I,so that while roll 23 of catch I is retracing its path along thecam-faces 26 and 22, the catches H will prevent the rack device fromaccidentally shifting on the truck.

Where the rack-teeth are continuously in engagement with the gears, therack device and suitable means for temporarily holding the same alsoform a device for temporarily locking the scoop in each of its twopositions, and if the lines of rack-teeth are of a length to leave thegears after each reversal of the scoop it willof course be desirable toprovide suitable means for temporarily holding the scoop in position, itbeing well understood that in excavating-machines having a single bucketfor cutting in one Wayonly a great variety of devices are shown in theprior patented art for temporarily holding the scoop or bucket againsttilt.. I Vhen the scoop illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 is movedalong the track-guides, so as to reach a like or similar position on theupper left-hand end portion of the track-guide, thehereinbefore-described operation of reversing the scoop takes place, itbeing understood that the reversing devices and adjuncts shown on theright end portion of the track-guide are understood to be duplicated onthe left end portion of said track-guide, observing that where theautomatic locking devices I are arranged as shown the cams on the leftend portion of the track-guide can be set lower down the trackrelatively to the position occupied by the cam devices shown on theright end portion of the track-guide.

After the scoop has cut across the trench line in one direction it isreversed and then drawn in an opposite direction, so as to again outacross the trench-line, and for each operation the track-guide islowered proportionally to the required out. In this way I provide asingle scoop which hasthe cutting and carrying capacity, orsubstantially the cutting and carrying capacity, of the twoflexibly-connected scoops shown in said Jacobs reissued Letters Patent,and as I employ a single scoop it will readily follow the desired angles28, Fig. 1, of the proposed trench.

As shown in Fig. 1, the base of the main frame straddles the trench andis provided with any desired number of suitable wheels 29, which can runupon tracks, or it can be supported by any other suitable or desiredmeans, it being understood that the machine as a whole is advancedproportionally to the progress of the work.

More broadly considered, the rack device, which is capable of end shiftrelative to the truck, is also a movable reversing device which can beconnected with the scoop by means other than the specific deviceshereinbefore described and which can be operated by means other than thestops G. For example, for each gear 7 I can substitute a sprocket and inconnection with each sprocket provide a short chain passing under andengaging the sprockets and having their ends attached to the slide ormovable reversing device, thereby dispensing with the rackteeth. I canalso attach the cables to opposite ends of the slide or reversing deviceand-provide each upwardly-extending arm of the guide-track with adownwardly and outwardly inclined end portion, so that after the truckhas been drawn up the main incline and is then drawn on the saidinclined end portion and the cables are then arrested by stopping theiroperating-drums the shifter will be held by the cables, while the truck,if unlocked from the shifter, will run down such end incline by gravity,thereby reversing the scoop. This is illustrated by Fig. 11, which showsa truck B like or similar to the previously-described truck B andprovided with a longitudinal slide or reciprocative shifter 10 similarto the shifter F, but not necessarily provided with rackteeth, althoughit can be provided with rackteeth for engaging reversing-gears, such ashereinbefore described. In said Fig. 10 the slide or reciprocatingshifter has a sliding movement relatively to the truck-that is to say,when the shifter is unlocked and held by suitable resistance againstmovement with the truck the advancement of the truck involves a relativeslide or shift between the truck and the shifter.

As illustrated in previous figures, the partial revolution of the scoop,bucket, or shovel is attained when the shifter is unlocked from thetruck and met by a stop on the track guide, whereby while the truckcontinues to advance the shifter is held by the stop on the guide-track;but in Fig. 11 the cables are attached to opposite ends of the shifter,which is understood to be normally locked upon the truck by an automaticlocking device such as hereinbefore set forth, and-each end of thetrack-guide is provided with a downwardly and outwardly inclined portionC. If now the truck is drawn up the main arm portion of the inclined armof the track-guide and then drawn onto the upper portion of the endincline C, the truck will have a tendency to run down this incline andit will do so as soon as the shifter is unlocked from the truck, whichsaid unlocking can be effected by spring locking devices and cams suchas hereinbefore described or by any suitable automatic locking andunlocking means. When the shifter is thus unlocked from the truck, thewinding-drums for the cable should be stopped, and thereupon while theshifter will be held stationary by one of the cables the truck will rundown the incline until it encounters and is arrested by a stop or bufferG. In this way the terminal advancement of the truck is effected bygravity, while the shifter is held byone of the cables, and thisrelative movement between the truck and the shifter causes the latter toreverse the position of the scoop. After the truck has reached the lowerportion of the incline C the winding-drums can be operated in directionsreversely to their preceding action, whereupon one of the cables whichis attached to the shifter will draw the truck back along thetrack-guide, while the other cable which is attached to the shifter willcorrespondmgly pay out. It is also understood that the reverse of thisaction takes place when the truck reaches the opposite end portion ofthe track-guide at the other side of the trench and that illustationthereof would be merely a substantial duplication of Fig. 11.

Further referring to Fig. 11, the shifter 10 is provided at its endswith stops 10 and 10, it being understood that said shifter may begenerally similar in form to the shifter F shown in preceding figures.These stops or shoulders on the shifter in Fig. 11 are adapted fortransmitting draft from the shifter to the truck. When, for example, thecables are stationary, so as to temporarily hold the shifter in theposition shown in Fig. 11, and the truck has descended the incline Cuntil it has been arrested by the stop or bumper G, the lower end of thetruck will abut against stop 10 on one end of the shifter, and as thisabutment will of itself arrest the truck the bumper G could be dispensedwith, although I prefer to provide such spring-bumper in order torelieve the shifter from shock. If now the winding-drums are reversed,so that cable pays out, the draft of the cable IE will be transmitted tothe truck through the medium of the shifter 10 having its stop orshoulder 10 engaging the now rear end of the truck. l/Vhen thislast-described operation is repeated at the opposite side of the trench,the relative shift between the truck and the shifter will bring stop 10of the shifter into engagement with the left hand of the truck, as willbe readily understood without further description. In said Fig. 11 thesprocket 7 a generally corresponds with gear 7 in preceding figures, itbeing, however, operated by a sprocket-chain 7 arranged to pass underand engage the sprocket 7 a and having its ends secured to the shifter10 It is understood that a like chain and sprocket device is alsoapplied at the opposite side of the scoop for the same purpose.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In an excavating-machine areversible scoo for facing to cut in opposite directions in a ternation,and means for directing and moving the scoop alternately in oppositedirections along a path conforming to the transverse contour of theexcavation.

2. In an excavating-machine for digging trenches, the combination of areversible scoop for facing to cut in opposite directions inalternation; means for moving and directing the scoop alternately inopposite directions along a path conforming to the transverse contour ofthe proposed trench; and means for automatically reversing the cuttingposition of the scoop relatively to its direction of travel. I

3. In an excavating-machine for digging trenches, the combination of areversible scoop for facing to cut in opposite directions inalternation; means for moving and directing the scoop alternately inopposite directions along a path conforming to the transverse contour ofthe proposed trench; and means for automatically reversing and dumpingthe scoo at each terminal portion of its line of travefi 4. In anexcavating-machine for digging trenches, a transverse guide conformingto the transverse contour of the proposed trench; a truck supported totraverse the guide; means for moving the truck along the guidealternately in opposite directions; a scoop pivotally mounted upon thetruck; means for reversing the scoop to cause it to face in ofppositedirections in alternation, and means or automatically and temporarilylocking the scoop in each of such two positions, the scoop being adaptedfor cutting in each position.

5. In an excavating-machine, a truck; a guide for the truck conformableto the transverse contour of the proposed excavation; a scoop for facingto cut in opposite directions in alternation pivotally mounted on thetruck and reversible thereon; means for drawing the truck along theguide alternately in opposite directions; and means for turning thescoop about its pivotal axis at or substantially at each terminalportion of its line of travel in direction and to an extent to dump itscontents and bring it from a position for cutting one way into positionfor cutting in an opposite direction.

6. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a pivoted reversiblescoop for facing to cut in opposite directions in alternation; means formoving and directing the scoop alternately in opposite directions alonga path conforming to the transverse contour of the proposed excavation;and means for automatically reversing the cutting position of the scooprelatively to its direction of travel and consisting of a reversingdevice for reversing and dumping the scoop, and means for actuating thereversing device at the terminal portion of the movement of the truck.

7. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a track-guide conformingto the transverse contour of the proposed trench; a truck for travelalong the track-guide means for movin the truck along the track-guide inopposite directions in alternation; a scoop pivotally supported upon thetruck; a sliderack on the truck; powei transmitting connection betweenthe slide-rack and the scoop for turning the latter about its pivotalaxis; means for locking and unlocking the rack; and means for holdingthe rack and permitting the truck to advance while the rack is thusheld, thereby permitting relative movement between the rack and truckto. turn the scoop about its pivotal axis to an extent to reverse thecutting position of the scoop.

8. In an excavating-machine for digging trenches, the combination of aguide-track conformable to the transverse contour of the trench; a trucksupported to traverse the guide-track; means for moving the truck alongthe guide-track in opposite directions in alternation; a reversiblescoop pivotally mounted upon the truck and adapted for facing inopposite directions according to its position, and means forautomatically causing the scoop to perform three-quarters orsubstantially three-quarters of a revolution at each terminal portion ofthe travel of the truck and in direction to dump the scoop and to bringit into position for excavating during the return travel of the truck.

9. In an excavating-machine for digging trenches, a track-guideconformable to the transverse contour of the excavation and having itsupper end portions provided with stops; a truck arranged to traverse theguide track cables and operating means therefor for drawing the truckalong the track-guide in opposite directions in alternation; areversible scoop pivotally mounted upon the truck; a shifter for turningthe scoop about its pivotal axis, said shifter being supported upon atruck, the stops on the track-guide being arranged for opposing movementon the art of the shifter with the truck when the atter is performingthe terminal portions of its travel, and a locking device forautomatically unlocking the shifter from the truck prior to reversementof the scoop, and for automatically locking the shifter upon the truckwhen such reversement on the part of the scoop has been effected.

10. In an excavating-machine for digging trenches, a track-guideconforming to the transverse contour of the trench; a scoop-reversingdevice on the truck adapted for projection from opposite ends of thetruck in alternation cables for drawing the truck along the track-guidein opposite directions in alternation; a reversible scoop pivotallysupported upon the truck; gear connection between the reversing deviceand the scoop for turning the latter about its pivotal axis when thereversing device is held stationary and the truck is advanced; and meansfor automatically locking and unlocking the slide on the truck.

11. In an excavating-machine, a reversible scoop for facing to cut inopposite directions in alternation; means for directing and moving thescoop alternately in opposite directions along a path conforming to thetransverse contour of the excavation, and means for reversing the scoopfrom its position for facing and cutting in one direction to a positionfor facing and cutting in an opposite direction along said path.

12. In an excavating-machine, a guide conformable to the transversecontour of the proposed excavation; a reversible scoop for facing to cutin opposite directions in alternation and supported for bodily movementalong the guide, and means for moving the scoop along the guide inopposite directions in alternation, the scoop being reversible from aposition for cutting in one direction to a position for cutting in anopposite direction and being adapted for cutting and loading in each ofsaid two positions, the bottom and back of the scoop in one of saidpositions being respectively its back and bottom in the other one ofsaid two positions, and means for automatically reversing the scoop fromone to the other position in direction to invert and thereby dump thescoop during such reversing movement.

13. In an excavating-machine for digging trenches, a track-guideconformable to the transverse contour of the trench; a truck ar rangedto traverse the track-guide; means for moving the truck along thetrack-guides in opposite direction in alternation; a scoop pivotallysupported upon the truck and arranged for reversal from a position forcutting in one direction. to a position for cutting in an oppositedirection; a device for thus reversing the position of the scoopsupported upon the truck, the connection between the truck and thereversing device permitting relative independent movement wherebyindependent movement of one member shall cause the reversal of thescoop; means for temporarily locking together the scoop and thereversing device; and means on the track-guide for operating the lockingmeans to break locked connection between the reversing device and thetruck.

14. In an excavating-machine a track; a truck for traversing the track areversible scoop supported by side pivots on the truck and adapted andarranged to turn about an axis passing through said. pivots from aposition for facing to cut in one direction to a position to cut in anopposite direction and means for reversing the scoop comprising gears onthe scoop and a reversing device engaging with the gears; the truck andreversing device being relatively and independently movable to a limitedextent.

CHARLES G. PAGE.

Witnesses:

OTTILIE C. FREIBERG, CATHERINE CRAVER.

